Subdividing land outside a municipality

Last updated on May 2, 2024

Landowners and property developers can apply to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for approval to subdivide land outside a municipality. A Provincial approving officer, appointed by the B.C. government, approves subdivision plans in regional district electoral areas and in the Island Trust after all requirements are met.

If you are subdividing land in a municipality, contact the municipal office where the proposed subdivision is located.

Subdivision approval process

The intent of the subdivision review process is to prepare an information package for the approving officer that enables the best decision in the public interest and enhances the probability that the applicant’s proposed subdivision will be approved. 

Application

Applications are processed more quickly if they are complete and accurate. Please read all the information that follows before beginning your application. 

Subdivision applications are processed and tracked through eDas, the online application and approval system.

Apply Online: Subdivision Approval

You can also submit a paper application:

 

Preliminary Layout Review

Once a preliminary application is made, ministry staff assess the application for potential impacts to public interests, including public health and safety, environmental and heritage values and land use planning.

This assessment involves specialized ministry technical expertise and, in some cases, referral to other provincial agencies. Applicants will typically have retained professional expertise to prepare their applications. The ministry may advise the applicant to get additional expert advice from land surveyors, engineers, archaeologists, biologists or other environmental scientists.

 

Preparing Your Application

Complete the Permission to Act as an Agent - H1275 (PDF) form if you are a landowner and have hired a consultant to act on your behalf.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will review health, safety, environmental and land use considerations when reviewing and approving a subdivision application.

The ministry will refer applicants and forward information to relevant agencies that may require further approvals.

Use the guidance and checklists to prepare your proposal:

 

Evaluation

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will review your application and refer it to other relevant agencies, such as the regional health authority or the regional district, for their recommendations or approval.

You will receive notice of which agencies have been asked to respond to your proposal.

After receiving all referral agency responses and reviewing the application to meet all requirements, the approving officer will review the application for preliminary consideration.

 

Preliminary Review & Development

The approving officer gives the application preliminary layout review with conditions or a preliminary layout review status with reasons. Applicants can then complete any work required by the preliminary layout review before submitting plans for approval to get final approval of the subdivision plans.
 

Final Approval

Once the subdivision plans are submitted for examination and decision the approving officer will review the subdivision application and give a decision of either approval or refusal with reason.

If the subdivision application is approved, the applicant can register the plans with the Land Title & Survey Authority.

 

Approval of subdivision plan and release for registration

Once the approving officer approves the subdivision plan, applicants must register the plans within two months at the Land Title Office. Include any other documentation such as restrictive covenants, easements and rights-of-way.

 

Land Title Survey Authority Plan Registration

For simple plans (subdivisions that do not require the deposit of related plans or charges on title) the approving officer may sign the subdivision plan and give it to the applicant for registration with the Land Title & Survey Authority (LTSA).

In other cases, the signed subdivision plan application and other required documents may be released to your lawyer or notary to register the approved survey plans and documents with the Land Title & Survey Authority as described in an undertaking.

Before the Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) accepts a digital survey for registration, a lawyer, notary public or B.C. land surveyor must attest to having the originally-signed application forms, or true copies of them, from each signatory listed on the application form, in their possession.

 

Final Submission Checklist

Once the requirements of the preliminary layout review have been completed the subdivision survey plan may be submitted for examination and final approval.

Include the following with your submission to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure district office for final approval:

  • The subdivision plan and its certification form
  • The application form to deposit plans at the Land Titles Office
  • Plan examination fee
  • A current tax clearance certificate
  • Any other documents required as a condition of approval

All of the plans and documents that are required as a condition of approval must be submitted as a complete package to the Provincial approving officer for final approval. Applications for registration are processed more quickly if they are submitted in electronic format.

 

Fees and costs

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure charges two fees, one at the time of your application and another for the review of final plans. Other agencies may also charge fees related to your application. 

When applying online, payment may be made online upon notification, or follow the application by payment in person or by mail.

 

Preliminary Subdivision Application

  • $350 per lot or shared interest created, including remainders, up to a maximum of $70,000 (equivalent to 200 lots) payable upon application
  • If after the application there is a minor change in the number of lots, additional lots require additional fees and are required at the time to proceed. If the number of lots goes down, there is no refund.
  • If there is a wholesale change in the application, requiring re-start of the review, a new application and associated fee payment may be necessary.
 

Final Conventional Plan Exam

  • $50 per examination
  • $100 per lot, including remainders, on the final plan payable upon final subdivision plan submission
 

Final Strata Plan Examination

  • $100 per examination
  • $100 per lot, including remainders, on the final plan payable upon final subdivision plan submission
 

Other Strata Fees

  • $100 to examine Form P for any phased development, payable upon application
  • $100 to issue a certificate of approval for each phase of a building strata development, payable upon certificate issuance
 

Assessments & Other Costs

You may incur the cost of site investigations if required by the approving officer. Common assessments are:

  • Geotechnical
  • Archaeological
  • Environmental
  • Hydrological
  • Soils

You are responsible for all costs related to the subdivision and development of the property, for example:

  • Road and drainage works
  • Utilities
  • Survey
  • Covenants and other legal documents

 

Collection of personal information

Personal information is collected by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure under section 26(c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used for the purpose of processing applications submitted through the electronic Development Approvals System (eDAS). If you have any questions about the collection, use and disclosure of this information, please contact:

Manager, Development Services
Suite 4D - 940 Blanshard Street
778 974-2634

Subdividing in a Municipality

If you are subdividing land in a municipality, contact the municipal office where the proposed subdivision is located.

Contact information

Contact district office development services staff if you have questions about subdividing land outside a municipality.